…Donors reaffirm commitment to multilateralism and global health equity as WHO advances toward sustainable funding goals.
By Bunmi Yekini
Geneva, Switzerland – In a powerful show of solidarity for global health, world leaders and philanthropic partners pledged more than US$170 million to the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday during a high-level event at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly in Geneva.
The contributions were made as part of WHO’s ongoing Investment Round (IR), which aims to fund its Fourteenth General Programme of Work — a strategic plan that could save up to 40 million lives over the next four years. The new funding complements an earlier decision by Member States to increase Assessed Contributions, adding US$90 million annually to WHO’s base budget.
“I am grateful to every Member State and partner that has pledged towards the investment round,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “In a challenging climate for global health, these funds will help us to preserve and extend our life-saving work. They show that multilateralism is alive and well.”
The pledging event, moderated by Mr. Moazzam Malik, CEO of Save the Children UK, brought together governments and philanthropic organisations from around the world. Among those pledging were Angola, Cambodia, China, Gabon, Mongolia, Qatar, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, as well as global foundations like the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, ELMA Philanthropies, Fondation Botnar, Laerdal Global Health, the Nippon Foundation, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation notably announced an additional US$13 million and committed to further increasing its support.
Eight of the pledges included flexible contributions, which WHO says are the most valuable type of funding because they allow the organisation to respond swiftly to global health priorities and emergencies. Four donors contributed to the WHO for the first time, broadening the organisation’s funding base.
Individual giving also played a role, with nearly 8,000 people globally contributing a total of US$600,000 through the One World Movement, many signing up as monthly donors, a gesture WHO described as a “powerful expression of global solidarity.”
The pledges were seen as a significant moment in WHO’s pursuit of sustainable and diversified financing, an effort to strengthen the organisation’s ability to respond to health crises, support country-level interventions, and align more closely with national health priorities.
“This event is a testament to the role of partnership in times of uncertainty,” a WHO spokesperson said. “Each contribution brings us one step closer to our vision of ‘One World for Health’, a future where everyone, everywhere, can access the care they need.”
As the Investment Round continues, WHO leadership said they are hopeful that today’s pledges will encourage additional commitments and help transform the organisation into a leaner, more agile, and country-focused institution.